Training to fly and land GRACEFULLY !

[Albert]

We are going to let Saltys wings grow out ( he is well on his way to having them grown back) so he will be flighted. We'd like suggestions to help teach him to fly and more importantly land with grace. All my other birds, when flighted , just crash landed into what ever was in front of them - BOOM. So, 2 things:

1) How to fly

2) How to land

Cheeps All!

[spiritbird]

Its very important for a bird to fly and they are happier doing so. First of all Albert I would make sure the room where you want him to learn flight should be "bird safe". Windows and mirrors covered. That often is the first place they fly to. I have always taken my flight learning birds into a small room that has no windows like a bathroom. Birds will learn to land on their own if they have a perch that is safe and comfortable. I am so happy you are letting his flight feathers grow out. You will notice a much happier, healthy bird.

[Cedardave]

All our birds have full flight.They are built to fly.Its natural for them to learn to fly on their own.For out of cage flight you need a bird safe room...no ceiling fans for sure.Birds cant see glass,so windows need to be covered as well as mirrors to avoid a disaster.As for landing...it likely wont be graceful unless they have a perch or playstand to land on.Most birds are self taught under your supervision.Unless you have wings of your own thats really how it is.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Casper, when he came to us, had not flown for a long time so was a bit rusty. The flying bit was OK but the landings were rubbish. He likes to land on the sofa because it is a nice soft landing zone. He did once overshoot the sofa when he was spooked by me walking into the room with a big box. He landed on one of the cactus on the windowsill. He stayed still till I lifted him off so no injuries and I think he learned a lesson because he hasn't done it again.
He often flies from his cage to our shoulder if he thinks we are going somewhere without him.
We also give him flying exercises which he really enjoys. To do this stand your bird on a finger and hold your arm up to the side at full stretch. Then rapidly drop you arm whilst turning a full circle. You may have to close your other fingers around his feet or a foot to keep him on your finger otherwise he will end up on the floor. Do this a couple of times and you will be dizzy but the bird should enjoy it. Casper has even perfected just hooking his beak over a finger to be dragged around that way whilst flying to stop falling off. Like a small kid he always asks for more when we have had enough. It is a good diversion tactic,standing him on a finger and saying "Right, flying practice" when he has his mind on chewing up a shoe or something else naughty. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

Oh my goodness a cactus landing is not something we want our birds to do. I have cactus plants and I hope it never happens.

[Mare]

I agree with all above comments :). Landings are the trickiest for these guys but with time, trial and error, they will get it down.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Oh my goodness a cactus landing is not something we want our birds to do. I have cactus plants and I hope it never happens.

Its all right the cactus wasn't harmed. :th_smile:

As for the birds, they survive in the Amazon jungle where they must learn which plants aren't comfortable to land on, probably by trial and error. Its a hazard they can see and avoid, unlike a ceiling fan whizzing around, or in the wild wind farm rotors and power cables. They have had to put big balls on the wires between the pylons on the flight paths along our river valley so the swans can recognise them as there was a lot of deaths caused by the birds not seeing the wires and flying into them.